Method and Apparatus for Identification Using Capacitive Elements

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument and related method are provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing, a cable, and an identifying circuit. An end-effector is coupled to the housing for treating tissue. The cable extends from the housing and is configured to couple the surgical instrument to a generator. The identifying circuit includes a plurality of capacitive elements disposed on the surgical instrument. The plurality of capacitive elements is readable by the generator.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to a method, system, andapparatus for identifying surgical instruments using capacitiveelements.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Energy-based tissue treatment is well known in the art. Various types ofenergy (e.g., electrical, ultrasonic, microwave, cryogenic, heat, laser,etc.) are used to treat tissue. One such type of energy used to treattissue is electrosurgical energy. Electrosurgery is the application ofelectricity and/or electromagnetic energy to cut, dissect, ablate,coagulate, cauterize, seal or otherwise treat biological tissue during asurgical procedure. Generally, electrosurgery utilizes anelectrosurgical generator operable to output energy and active andreturn electrodes that are electrically connected via a cable assemblyto the generator.

In bipolar electrosurgery, one of the electrodes of a hand-heldinstrument functions as the active electrode and another electrode ofthe hand-held instrument functions as the return electrode. The returnelectrode is placed in close proximity to the active electrode such thatan electrical circuit is formed between the two electrodes (e.g.,electrosurgical forceps). Bipolar electrosurgical techniques andinstruments can be used to coagulate blood vessels or tissue, e.g., softtissue structures, such as lung, brain, and intestine. A surgeon cancauterize, coagulate, desiccate tissue, or simply reduce or slowbleeding by controlling the intensity, frequency, and duration of theelectrosurgical energy applied between the electrodes and through thetissue. In order to achieve the desired surgical effects without causingunwanted charring of tissue at the surgical site or causing collateraldamage to adjacent tissue, e.g., thermal spread, the output from theelectrosurgical generator is controlled, e.g., power, waveform, voltage,current, pulse rate, etc.

In monopolar electrosurgery, the active electrode is typically part ofthe surgical instrument held by the surgeon that is applied to thetissue to be treated. A patient return pad having one or more returnelectrodes is placed remotely from the active electrode to carry theelectrosurgical energy back to the generator and safely disperse currentapplied by the active electrode. The return electrodes usually have alarge patient-contact surface area to minimize heating at that site.Heating is caused by high current densities that directly depend on thesurface area. A larger surface contact area results in lower localizedheat intensity. The size of the return electrodes is typically chosenbased upon assumptions of the maximum current utilized during aparticular surgical procedure and the generator's duty cycle (i.e., thepercentage of time the generator is on).

Electrosurgical devices utilizing electricity and/or electromagneticenergy have been developed for a variety of uses and applications. Onetype of energy-based treatment of tissue is microwave-energy basedtreatment. Typically, microwave apparatus for use in surgical proceduresinclude a microwave generator that functions as an energy source, and amicrowave surgical instrument (e.g., microwave ablation probe) having anantenna assembly for directing energy to the target tissue. Themicrowave generator and surgical instrument are typically operativelycoupled by a cable assembly having a plurality of conductors fortransmitting microwave energy from the generator to the instrument, andfor communicating control, feedback and identification signals betweenthe instrument and the generator.

There are several types of microwave surgical instruments (e.g.,microwave probes) in use, e.g., monopole, dipole, and helical. One typeis a monopole antenna probe, which consists of a single, elongatedmicrowave conductor exposed at the end of the probe. The probe istypically surrounded by a dielectric sleeve. The second type ofmicrowave probe commonly used is a dipole antenna, which typicallyconsists of a coaxial construction having an inner conductor and anouter conductor with a dielectric junction separating a portion of theinner conductor. In the monopole and dipole antenna probes, microwaveenergy generally radiates perpendicularly from the axis of theconductor.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a surgical instrument is provided. The surgicalinstrument may be an electrosurgical instrument, a microwave surgicalinstrument, and/or an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The surgicalinstrument includes a housing, a cable, and an identifying circuit. Anend-effector is coupled to the housing for treating tissue. The cableextends from the housing and is configured to couple the surgicalinstrument to a generator. The identifying circuit includes a pluralityof capacitive elements disposed on the surgical instrument. Theplurality of capacitive elements is readable by the generator. Acapacitance-to-digital converter may be electrically coupled to theidentifying circuit to interrogate the identifying circuit.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, each of theplurality of capacitive elements corresponds to a number or analphanumeric character. Each of the capacitive elements has acapacitance, and a plurality of capacitive ranges corresponds to aplurality of numbers. Each of the capacitive elements is within acapacitive range of the plurality of capacitive ranges and therebycorresponds to a number that corresponds to the range. In someembodiments of the present disclosure, an electrically-conductive inkdisposed on a substrate defines the plurality of capacitive elements.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the identifyingcircuit electrically communicates with a multiplexer to separatelycouple to each of the plurality of capacitive elements forinterrogation.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method foridentifying a surgical instrument is provided. The method includes thesteps of connecting the surgical instrument to a generator,interrogating a capacitive element within the surgical instrument, andidentifying the surgical instrument based upon the capacitive element.The capacitive elements may be individually interrogated. The method mayinclude the steps of interrogating a plurality of capacitive elementsincluding the capacitive element within the surgical instrument, andmapping each of the capacitive elements to a corresponding number. Theplurality of capacitive elements corresponds to a plurality of numbers,and the plurality of numbers forms a surgical instrument identificationvalue. The interrogating step may determine the capacitance of one ormore capacitive elements using a capacitance-to-digital converter.

The method may further include, in some embodiments, the steps ofperforming a hash algorithm on the surgical instrument identificationvalue, and comparing the hashed surgical instrument identification valueto values within a database. Additionally or alternatively, the methodmay perform other encryption methodologies, e.g., Advanced EncryptionStandard (AES). The method also includes, in some embodiments, the stepof determining a manufacturing lot number of the surgical instrumentcorresponding to the capacitive element. The method may further includethe step of determining if the surgical instrument is an authorizedsurgical instrument based upon the comparison between the hashedsurgical instrument identification value and the values within thedatabase. Additionally or alternatively, the method may includedetermining if an end-of-life has been achieved of the surgicalinstrument corresponding to the capacitive element. The method mayinclude the step of disabling the generator in response to theidentified surgical instrument and/or the end-of-life determination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and features of the presently-disclosed method, system, andapparatus for identifying surgical instruments using capacitive elementswill become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art whendescriptions of various embodiments thereof are read with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrosurgical system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the generator of FIG. 1 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an electrosurgical systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an identifying circuit according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the identifying circuit of FIG. 4 formed bydepositing silver ink on a substrate;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the identifying circuit of FIG. 5A;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are flowcharts illustrating a method for identifying asurgical instrument according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a microwave surgical instrumentincluding an identifying circuit according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a microwave surgical instrumentincluding an identifying circuit according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail of FIG. 7showing a portion of the identifying circuit disposed on the outersurface of the instrument of FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail of FIG. 8showing a portion of the identifying circuit disposed on the outersurface of the instrument of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of a method, system, and apparatus foridentifying surgical instruments using capacitive elements of thepresent disclosure are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Like reference numerals may refer to similar or identicalelements throughout the description of the figures. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a bipolar and monopolarelectrosurgical system 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The system 1 includes a surgical generator 20. The surgicalgenerator 20 according to the present disclosure can performenergy-based surgical procedures. In some of the embodiments disclosedherein, the surgical generator 20 is described as an electrosurgicalgenerator; however, it is to be appreciated that a microwave surgicalgenerator or an ultrasonic surgical generator or other suitablegenerator may be used in the place of the electrosurgical generatorwhere appropriate in the various embodiments disclosed herein.

The surgical generator 20 may include a plurality of outputs forinterfacing with various surgical instruments such as electrosurgicalinstruments, e.g., monopolar active electrode, return electrode, bipolarelectrosurgical forceps, footswitch, etc. The surgical generator 20generally includes electronic circuitry configured to generate radiofrequency power specifically suited for various energy-based surgicalprocedures such as electrosurgical modes (e.g., cutting, blending,division, etc.) and procedures (e.g., monopolar, bipolar, vesselsealing).

The system 1 includes one or more monopolar electrosurgical instruments2 having one or more electrodes 3 (e.g., an electrosurgical pencil, anelectrosurgical cutting probe, ablation electrode(s), etc.) for treatingtissue of a patient. The monopolar electrosurgical instrument 2 includesan identifying circuit 4A disposed in association with the monopolarelectrosurgical instrument 2. Although one identifying circuit 4A isshown in FIG. 1, one or more identifying circuits 4A may be disposed inassociation with one or more surfaces of the monopolar electrosurgicalinstrument 2, or component thereof. In some embodiments, one or moreidentifying circuits may be disposed in association with one or moreinterior surfaces and/or one or more exterior surfaces of the monopolarelectrosurgical instrument 2, or component thereof. The generator 20 canidentify the monopolar electrosurgical instrument 2 by interrogating theidentifying circuit 4A, e.g., via a cable 11 within a supply line 5. Thecable 11 includes one or more electrically-conductive wires (not shownin FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the generator 20 supplieselectrosurgical RF energy to the instrument 2. The instrument 2 includesan active electrode 3 that is connected via a supply line 5 to an activeterminal 30 of the generator 20, allowing the instrument 2 to coagulate,ablate, or otherwise treat tissue. The energy is returned to thegenerator 20 through a return pad 6 via a return line 8 at a returnterminal 32 of the generator 20.

The return pad 6 may include a plurality of return electrodes 19 thatare arranged to minimize the chances of tissue damage by maximizing theoverall contact area with the patient. In addition, the generator 20 andthe return pad 6 may be configured for monitoring so-called“tissue-to-patient” contact to ensure that sufficient contact existstherebetween to further minimize chances of tissue damage.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 includes bipolarelectrosurgical forceps 10 having one or more electrodes for treatingtissue of a patient. The bipolar electrosurgical forceps 10 include anidentifying circuit 4B that is interrogated by the generator 20 toidentify the bipolar electrosurgical forceps 10. The electrosurgicalforceps 10 may be interrogated by the generator 20 via the cable 11. Theelectrosurgical forceps 10 includes opposing jaw members 15, 17 havingone or more active electrodes 14 and a return electrode 16 disposedtherein, respectively. The one or more active electrodes 14 and thereturn electrode 16 are connected to the generator 20 through a cable 11that includes the supply and return lines 7, 8 coupled to the active andreturn terminals 30, 32, respectively. In some embodiments, theelectrosurgical forceps 10 is coupled to the generator 20 at a connector(not shown) having connections to the active and return terminals 30, 32(e.g., pins) via a plug disposed at the end of the cable 18, wherein theplug includes contacts from the supply and return lines 7, 8. Thegenerator 20 can interrogate the identifying circuit 4B to identify theelectrosurgical forceps 10.

With reference to FIG. 2, a front face 40 of the generator 20 is shown.The generator 20 may be any suitable type (e.g., electrosurgical,ultrasonic, light, optical, microwave, etc.). The generator 20 mayinclude a plurality of connectors, e.g., seven connectors 50, 52, 54,56, 58, 60 and 62, to accommodate various types of electrosurgicalinstruments (e.g., monopolar electrosurgical instruments 2,electrosurgical forceps 10, etc.). The generator 20 includes one or moredisplay screens 42, 44, 46 for providing the user with a variety ofoutput information, e.g., intensity settings, treatment completeindicators, etc. Each of the screens 42, 44, 46 is generally associatedwith one or more of the plurality of connectors 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60and 62. The generator 20 includes suitable input controls (e.g.,buttons, activators, switches, touch screen, etc.) for controlling thegenerator 20. The display screens 42, 44, and 46 may be configured astouch screens that display a corresponding menu for the electrosurgicalinstruments (e.g., multiple instruments 2, electrosurgical forceps 10,etc.). The user makes inputs by touching corresponding menu options. Thecontrols allow the user to select desired output modes as well as adjustoperating parameters of the modes, such as power, waveform parameters,etc., to achieve the desired output suitable for a particular task,e.g., cutting, coagulating, tissue sealing, etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the generator 20 interrogates anysurgical instrument connected to a corresponding connector 50, 52, 54,56, 58, 60 or 62, such as the monopolar electrosurgical instrument 2 orthe bipolar electrosurgical forceps 10. The generator 20 interrogatesone or more capacitive elements within a respective identifying circuit(e.g., identifying circuit 4A or 4B shown in FIG. 1 or identifyingcircuit 14 shown in FIG. 3) of a respective surgical instrument, e.g.,monopolar electrosurgical instrument 2 or bipolar electrosurgicalforceps 10. The generator 20 identifies a respective surgical instrumentbased upon the capacitances of the capacitive elements. In someembodiments, the generator 20 includes instrument-error indicator lights49. One or more of the error indicator lights 49 may be light emittingdiodes. A respective indictor light 49 may turn on in response to theidentification of a respective surgical instrument plugged into aconnector 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 or 62, e.g., an unauthorized surgicaldevice may be connected to one of the connectors 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60and 62. In some embodiments, one or more of the display screens 42, 44and 46 may additionally, or alternatively, be used to convey informationassociated with the identification of a surgical instrument plugged intoa connector 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 or 62.

The generator 20 is configured to operate in a variety of modes. In oneembodiment, the generator 20 may output various modes, e.g., cut, blend,division of tissue with hemostasis, fulgurate, and/or spray. In someembodiments, each of the modes operates based on a preprogrammed powercurve that dictates how much power is outputted by the generator 20 atvarying impedance ranges of the load (e.g., tissue). Each of the powercurves includes a constant power, constant voltage, and constant currentranges that are defined by the user-selected power setting and themeasured minimum impedance of the load.

The screen 46 controls bipolar sealing procedures performed by theforceps 10 that may be plugged into the connectors 60, 62. The generator20 outputs energy through the connectors 60, 62 suitable for sealingtissue grasped by the forceps 10. The screen 46 also controls a systemtray 47 to allow the user to access and adjust system settings. Thesystem tray 47 may include a brightness icon 43. The system tray 47 mayinclude a menu icon 48. The system tray 47 may include an error-disabledicon 41. The brightness icon 43 allows the user to adjust the brightnessof the screens 42, 44, 46. The error disabled icon 41 indicates that theerror warnings have been disabled using the service menu. The menu icon48 allows access to the main menu where the user can change options forlanguage, appearance, and other operations.

The screen 42 controls monopolar output and the devices connected to theconnectors 50 and 52. In some embodiments, the connector 50 isconfigured to couple to the instrument 2, and the connector 52 may beconfigured to couple to a foot switch (not shown), which provides foradditional inputs (e.g., replicating inputs of the generator 20 and/orinstrument 2). For example, in standard monopolar mode, the power outputmodes 72, 74 are indicted on interface 70. The user adjusts the powercontrols using up and down arrows 76, 78 for each mode respectively.

The screen 44 controls monopolar and bipolar output and the devicesconnected to the connectors 56 and 58. Connector 56 is configured tocouple to the instrument 2, allowing the generator 20 to power multipleinstruments 2. Connector 58 is configured to couple to a bipolarinstrument. When using the generator 20 in monopolar mode (e.g., withinstruments 2), the return electrode 6 is coupled to the connector 54,which is associated with the screens 42, 44.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an electrosurgical system 19including the generator 20 coupled to a surgical instrument 21. Thegenerator includes a controller 24, a high voltage DC power supply 27(“HVPS”) and an RF output stage 28, a capacitance-to-digital converter36, and a multiplexer 38. The instrument 21 includes an identifyingcircuit 14. The instrument 21 may be the monopolar surgical instrument 2or the bipolar electrosurgical forceps 10 of FIG. 1.

The HVPS 27 is connected to an AC source (e.g., an electrical walloutlet) and provides high voltage DC power to an RF output stage 28,which then converts high voltage DC power into RF energy and deliversthe RF energy to the port or active terminal 30. The electrosurgicalenergy is returned thereto via the port or return terminal 32, e.g., theelectrosurgical energy may be returned through a return pad (not shown).In particular, the RF output stage 28 generates sinusoidal waveforms ofhigh RF energy. The RF output stage 28 is configured to operate in aplurality of modes, during which the generator 20 outputs correspondingwaveforms having specific duty cycles, peak voltages, crest factors,etc. In another embodiment, the generator 20 may be based on other typesof suitable power supply topologies.

The controller 24 includes a processing unit 25 in operablecommunication with a memory 26, which may be volatile type memory, e.g.,RAM, and/or non-volatile type memory, e.g., flash media, disk media,etc. The processing unit 25 includes an output port that is operablyconnected to the HVPS 27 and the RF output stage 28 allowing theprocessing unit 25 to control the output of the generator 20 accordingto either an open-loop control scheme or a closed-loop control scheme.The processing unit 25 may include any type of computing device,computational circuit, or any type of processor or processing circuitcapable of executing a series of instructions that are stored in amemory. The processing unit 25 may include multiple processors and/ormulticore CPUs and may include any type of processor, such as amicroprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or the like,adapted to perform the calculations discussed herein.

The controller 24 is coupled to the capacitance-to-digital converter 36which is, in turn, coupled to multiplexer 38. The multiplexer 38 iscoupled to the surgical instrument 21 such that thecapacitance-to-digital converter 36 measures the capacitance of one ormore capacitive elements 29 within the identifying circuit 14 toidentify the surgical instrument 21.

Each of the capacitive elements 29 has a capacitance. The multiplexer 38individually selects one of the capacitive elements 29 for interrogationso that the capacitance-to-digital converter 36 can measure itsrespective capacitance. The capacitance-to-digital converter 36digitally communicates the measured capacitances to the controller 24.The controller 24 maps each capacitance of the capacitive elements 29 toa corresponding number. For example, 16 different capacitive ranges maycorrespond to 16 different hexadecimal numbers, e.g., made of digits 0 .. . 9 and A . . . F. Eight of capacitive elements 29 may correspond to4,294,967,296 values when represented by an 8-digit hexadecimal number.The mapped values can correspond to a number that is used as anidentification value for the surgical instrument 21, e.g., a surgicalinstrument identification value may be the sequential aggregation of themapped numbers (or concatenation of the mapped numbers). In someembodiments, a hash algorithm is performed on the surgical instrumentidentification value to securely identify the surgical instrument 21.The hash algorithm may be Message Digest 5 (MD5), or a Secure HashAlgorithm (SHA), e.g., SHA-0, SHA-1, or SHA-2, or the like. The hashedsurgical instrument identification value may be compared to valueswithin a database, e.g., within memory 26, to determine if the surgicalinstrument 21 is authorized. In some embodiments, the controller 24disables the generator 20, e.g., by preventing the RF output stage 28from supplying energy to the surgical instrument 21, if it is determinedthat an unauthorized surgical instrument 21 is coupled to the generator20. Additionally or alternatively, other encryption methodologies, e.g.,Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), may be performed.

The surgical instrument identification value may additionally, oralternatively, be used to keep track of the number of times the surgicalinstrument 21 has been used. In some embodiments, the generator 20 isadapted to determine if an end-of-life of the surgical instrument 21 hasbeen reached, e.g., by comparing the stored number of times the surgicalinstrument 21 has been used to a predetermined threshold. In some cases,where the surgical instrument 21 may be a single-use disposableinstrument, the generator 20 may use the surgical instrumentidentification value to determine if the surgical instrument 21 has beenpreviously used. If so, the generator 20 may be adapted to prevent thesurgical instrument 21 from being used again.

The surgical instrument identification value may correspond to a serialnumber of the surgical instrument 21, a lot number of the surgicalinstrument 21, a type of instrument of the surgical instrument 21,and/or the like. The identifying circuit 14 may include multiple valuesfor determining one or more parameters of the surgical instrument 21.

The surgical generator 20 receives feedback from one or more sensors 23to form a closed-loop control system (not shown) within the controller21. The control system within the controller 24 may be adjusted basedupon the identification of the surgical instrument 21. The one or moresensors 23 measure a variety of tissue and energy properties (e.g.,tissue impedance, tissue temperature, output current and/or voltage,etc.) and provide feedback to the controller 24. Such sensors mayinclude voltage and current sensors that are coupled to the outputterminals 30 and 32 of the generator 20. In response to the sensorsignals, the controller 24 controls the HVPS 27 and the RF output stage28, which then adjusts the DC and the RF power supplies, respectively.The controller 24 also receives input signals from the input controls ofthe generator 20, the instrument 2, or the forceps 10. The controller 24utilizes the input signals to adjust power outputted by the generator 20and performs other control functions thereon.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an identifying circuit 400 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. The identifying circuit 400includes eight capacitive elements schematically represented bycapacitors 402-414. Each of the capacitors 402-414 has a correspondingcapacitance C1, C2 . . . C8, respectively. The capacitance-to-digitalconverter 36 can individually interrogate the capacitors 402-414 throughinterrogation lines 418 using the multiplexer 38 (see FIG. 3). FIGS. 4Band 4C show an embodiment of the identifying circuit 400 formed bydepositing silver ink on a substrate.

The presently-disclosed capacitive elements may be formed by padprinting, silk-screening, lithography, laser printing, and/or suitableother processes. In some embodiments, described below, capacitiveelements (e.g., capacitors 402-416 shown in FIGS. 4B, 4C and 5) may beformed using a direct write process, e.g., MICROPEN® Technologies'MICROPENNING®, to deposit material onto a surface. In general, the term“direct write” describes a printing or patterning method that employs acomputerized, motion-controlled stage with a motionless patterngenerating device to dispense flowable materials in a designed patternonto a surface.

MICROPENNING® is a micro-capillary technology that uses a positivedisplacement method of pumping flowable materials, typically having aviscosity of between about 5 and about 500,000 centipoise, onto asurface. In some embodiments, using MICROPENNING® direct writing toprecisely control the volume of flowable material (e.g.,electrically-conductive ink) applied, in one or more layers, to theouter surface of a probe, results in the formation of patterns that meetspecific tolerance requirements for an array of capacitive elements,e.g., to allow for probe identification.

FIG. 5A is a top view and FIG. 5B is the side view of the identifyingcircuit 400 formed by depositing metallic ink 402A and 402B on asubstrate 417. Metallic ink 402A and 402B may be formed of any suitableelectrically-conductive material, e.g., copper, gold, silver or otherconductive metals having suitable conductivity values. Each of thecapacitors 402-416 may be formed in this fashion. In other embodiments,other metallic inks or electrically-conductive materials may bedeposited on the substrate 418 to form one or more capacitors 402-416.The substrate 418 may be made of a variety of inorganic and/or organicmaterials, including but not limited to silicon-based compounds, glass,quartz, sapphire, ceramic, polyimide (e.g., KAPTON®), polyester (e.g.,MYLAR®), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), plastics. In someembodiments, the substrate 418 may be made of a composite materialcommercially available under the trademark POLYMED® offered by PolygonCompany.

In some embodiments, the identifying circuit 400 may be formed,patterned or otherwise deposited on the outer surface of an energyapplicator or probe. In some embodiments, the identifying circuit 400may be formed using a direct write process, e.g., MICROPEN®Technologies' MICROPENNING®, or other suitable material depositiontechnology.

In the case of a parallel plate geometry, the capacitance of each of thecapacitors 402-416 may be derived by Formula (1):

$\begin{matrix}{{C = \frac{A\; ɛ_{0}ɛ_{r}}{d}},} & (1)\end{matrix}$

where C is the capacitance of the capacitor, A is the area of thedeposited ink on a side of the substrate 418, ∈₀ is the permittivityconstant, ∈_(r) is the dielectric constant of the substrate 418, and dis the distance between the two ink depositions, e.g., the distancebetween ink deposit 402A and 402B. In accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure, the design of the capacitors maynot be in a parallel plate geometry, and the capacitance of each of thecapacitors 402-416 may be defined generally by Formula (2):

$\begin{matrix}{{C = \frac{Q}{V}},} & (2)\end{matrix}$

where C is the capacitance of the capacitor, Q is charge, and V isvoltage.

The areas of the deposited ink 402A-416A, and 402B-416B may be selectedto correspond to a number. In some embodiments, the dimensions (e.g.,the area A) of the ink deposited of the capacitors 402-416 may beselected so that each of the capacitors 402-416 has a capacitance thatcorresponds to a number such that the generator 20 (FIG. 3) can identifythe instrument via the identifying circuit 400. Additionally oralternatively, the distance between the two ink depositions may bevaried to vary the capacitance of the capacitive elements.

FIG. 5 shows a microwave surgical instrument 500 having an identifyingcircuit 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theidentifying circuit 400 is coupled to, deposited on, or is otherwiseattached to the outer sleeve of the microwave surgical instrument 500such that the microwave generator can interrogate the identifyingcircuit 400.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are flowcharts illustrating a method a method 600 ofidentifying a surgical instrument according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In step 602, a surgical instrument is connected to agenerator, e.g., generator 20. In step 604, a plurality of capacitiveelements is interrogated including the capacitive element within thesurgical instrument of step 602. Step 604 includes steps 606 and 608,and a decision step 630.

In step 606, a capacitive element is individually interrogated, e.g.,the multiplexer 39 individually interrogates a capacitive element ofcapacitive elements 29. In step 608, the capacitance of the capacitiveelement is determined using a capacitance-to-digital converter. Indecision step 630, it is determined if all of the capacitive elements 29have been interrogated. If it is determined, in step 630, that not allof the capacitive elements 29 have been interrogated, then the method600 repeats steps 606 and 608 until all of the capacitive elements 29have been interrogated.

In step 610, each of the capacitive elements 29 is mapped to acorresponding number. In step 612, a surgical instrument identificationvalue is formed from the corresponding numbers, e.g., by concatenatingall of the corresponding numbers of all of the capacitive elements. Instep 614, the surgical instrument is identified based upon thecorresponding number from the capacitive element 29, e.g., using thesurgical instrument identification value. In step 616, a manufacturinglot number of the surgical instrument corresponding to the capacitiveelement 29 is determined, e.g., using the surgical instrumentidentification value. In step 618, a hash algorithm is performed on thesurgical instrument identification value. In step 620, the hashedsurgical instrument identification value is compared to values within adatabase. In step 622, it is determined if the surgical instrument is anauthorized surgical instrument based upon the comparison between thehashed surgical instrument identification value and the values withinthe database.

In step 624, the generator is disabled if the identified surgicalinstrument is an unauthorized surgical instrument or the lot number doesnot correspond to predetermined criteria. In step 646, it is determinedif an end-of-life has been achieved by the surgical instrumentcorresponding to the capacitive element based upon a threshold value,e.g., disposable instrument=1. In step 628, the generator is disabled ifthe end-of-life has been achieved, e.g., the surgical instrument hasbeen used a predetermined number of times.

FIG. 7 shows a microwave surgical instrument (shown generally as 700)according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Microwave surgicalinstrument 700 generally includes an energy applicator or probe 701including an elongate member 710 defining a longitudinal axis “A-A” andincluding a distal end 715. In some embodiments, the elongate member 710may include a cooling jacket 714 and may be formed of any suitablematerial, e.g., POLYMED™ composite material tubing. In some embodiments,at least a portion of the cooling jacket 714 has an inner diameter thatis larger than the outer diameter of an antenna assembly (not shown)thereby defining a tubular fluid lumen 712.

Microwave surgical instrument 700 may be provided with an end cap ortapered portion 750, e.g., disposed at the distal end 715 of theelongate member 710, which may terminate in a sharp tip to allow forinsertion into tissue with minimal resistance. One example of a straightprobe with a sharp tip that may be suitable for use as the probe 701 iscommercially available under the trademark EVIDENT™ offered by CovidienSurgical Solutions, Boulder, Colo. The end cap or tapered portion 750may include other shapes, such as, for example, a tip that is rounded,flat, square, hexagonal, or cylindroconical.

A first configuration of electrically-conductive traces (shown generallyas 740 in FIGS. 7 and 9) is formed, patterned or otherwise deposited ona first portion 720 of the outer surface 711 of the probe 701. The firstconfiguration 740 of electrically-conductive traces includes a pluralityof individual traces 744, and may be formed from electrically-conductiveink 742, e.g., ink including electrically-conductive (e.g., silver)particles. One or more of the electrically-conductive traces 744 mayinclude one or more element connections 745. In some embodiments, asshown in FIG. 9, each element connection 745 may be circular shaped, andmay define pogo-pin or other isolated electrical connection. The shapeand size of the element connections 745 may be varied from theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 8, the microwave surgical instrument 700 of FIG. 7 is shownrotated 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis “A-A”. A secondconfiguration of electrically-conductive traces (shown generally as 840in FIGS. 8 and 10) is formed, patterned or otherwise deposited on asecond portion 820 of the outer surface 711 of the probe 701. The secondconfiguration 840 of electrically-conductive traces may include the endportions 846 of the plurality of traces 744, and may be formed fromelectrically-conductive ink 742. The second configuration 840 mayadditionally include a ground trace 830. In some embodiments, as shownin FIGS. 8 and 10, the ground trace 830 includes a first portion 831(FIG. 10) disposed between and spaced apart from the end portions 846and a second portion 832 (FIG. 8) extending proximally along thelongitudinal axis “A-A”. The shape and size of the end portions 846 andthe ground trace 830 may be varied from the configuration depicted inFIGS. 8 and 10.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the plurality of traces 744 and the endportions 846 thereof are sized to have different capacitive values withrespect to the ground trace 830. In some embodiments, the firstconfiguration 740 of electrically-conductive traces and the secondconfiguration 840 of electrically-conductive traces together form anidentifying circuit of the probe 701.

In some embodiments, the first configuration 740 and/or the secondconfiguration 840 may be formed using a direct write process, e.g.,MICROPEN® Technologies' MICROPENNING®, to deposit material, e.g.,electrically-conductive ink 742, onto one or more portions of the outersurface 711 of the probe 701.

The above-described surgical instruments including one or moreidentifying circuits may be suitable for utilization with endoscopicsurgical procedures and/or hand-assisted, endoscopic and laparoscopicsurgical procedures. The above-described surgical instruments includingone or more identifying circuits may be suitable for utilization in opensurgical applications. The above-described method of identifying asurgical instrument may be used to identify a variety of surgicalinstruments, e.g., bipolar and monopolar electrosurgical instruments.

Although embodiments have been described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings for the purpose of illustration and description,it is to be understood that the inventive processes and apparatus arenot to be construed as limited thereby. It will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art that various modifications to the foregoingembodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for identifying a surgical instrument, the method comprising: connecting the surgical instrument to a generator; interrogating a capacitive element within the surgical instrument; and identifying the surgical instrument based upon the capacitive element.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising interrogating a plurality of capacitive elements including the capacitive element within the surgical instrument.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising mapping each of the capacitive elements to a corresponding number.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of capacitive elements corresponds to a plurality of numbers.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of numbers forms a surgical instrument identification value.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising performing a hash algorithm on the surgical instrument identification value.
 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising comparing the hashed surgical instrument identification value to values within a database.
 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining if the surgical instrument is an authorized surgical instrument based upon the comparison between the hashed surgical instrument identification value and the values within the database.
 9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising individually interrogating each capacitive element.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disabling the generator in response to the identified surgical instrument.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining if an end-of-life has been achieved of the surgical instrument corresponding to the capacitive element.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a manufacturing lot number of the surgical instrument corresponding to the capacitive element.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interrogating step comprises determining the capacitance of the capacitive element using a capacitance-to-digital converter.
 14. A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing having an end effector attached thereto for treating tissue; a cable extending from the housing and configured to couple the surgical instrument to a generator; and an identifying circuit including a plurality of capacitive elements disposed on the surgical instrument and readable by the generator.
 15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of capacitive elements corresponds to a number or an alphanumeric character.
 16. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein each of the capacitive elements has a capacitance, and a plurality of capacitive ranges corresponds to a plurality of numbers, wherein each of the capacitive elements is within a capacitive range of the plurality of capacitive ranges and thereby corresponds to a number that corresponds to the range.
 17. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the surgical instrument is one of an electrosurgical instrument, a microwave surgical instrument, and an ultrasonic surgical instrument.
 18. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein conductive ink disposed on a substrate defines the plurality of capacitive elements.
 19. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the identifying circuit electrically communicates with a multiplexer to separately couple each of the plurality of capacitive elements for interrogation.
 20. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising a capacitance-to-digital converter electrically coupled to the identifying circuit to interrogate the identifying circuit. 